The red-head's smile returned briefly as he felt that much smaller hand push lightly against his shoulder. He was about to speak again when more recruits of the 108th came filtering in and he went quiet in the hopes that they might bring forth some new information.... something that might deter them from rushing into this suicidal mission.
He just stood there, eyes narrow and cautious as everyone landed around them. His ears heard the words they spoke and some part of him was listening, but he found it hard to concentrate, always looking over his shoulder at the area around them. Even in a group like this they were hardly safe. A single titan could kill the lot of them if it caught them flat-footed. The smell of smoke and blood was overpowering, and each new face that showed up seemed more stricken than the last. He was glad fro each recruit that showed up, tears or no, because at least then they weren't dead.
Not yet chimed in some dark voice in his head and his teeth clenched together visibly. His temper flared and some impossible part of his ego exploded furiously back NOT EVER! Now that they're here I can protect them. Nobody will... The voice in his head faltered slightly and images of the recent slaughter came unbidden into his mind, a violent and sickening reminder of his impotency. Nobody else will die.
Erika said something and he realized everyone was still standing around. Yes, no time to lose. It may be his mission to protect the recruits here, but the responsibility of protecting the civilians fell on all of them. He wiped more blood tickling down his face away, squinting his eyes against the sting of it. "Yes, let's get going." He spoke up, partially to himself, fists clenching tighter around the hilts of his swords, testing the resistance of the triggers. Erika was already gone, and he paused a moment to marvel at either her bravery or her stupidity in rushing off alone. Top of the class or not, she was still tempting death by taking off by herself.
"Be careful and stay close, everyone. Remember we're just bait, so we don't have to fight. Only engage a Titan if you have to." Unsure of who was technically in the lead position here, he didn't even know if the rest of them would listen to him. He rolled his shoulders and squared his jaw, steeling himself against what was to come. I'll keep you safe. He finished silently in his head, squeezing the triggers of his maneuver gear and taking off into the air some distance behind Erika. He turned his head to see who was following then, and caught a glimpse of another recruit some distance off. He heard a faint call but the wind whipped it away, though the voice sounded familiar. He kept his pace as slow as he could with the lightning fast maneuver gear, wanting to make sure they kept their group nice and tight.... and maybe to give that straggler a chance to catch up.
The Wall loomed in the distance, ominous and seemingly impossibly far away from their current location. Even now he could see the heads and torsos of numerous titans between them and their target. Today just kept getting better.